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Why Are CPAPs Tested for Explosives in Airports?
saw this on a blog about flying, and thought it was of interest. anyone agree this is the reason?
"The CPAP machines are targeted because some of them have humidifiers that hold liquids. This all started when they first banned liquids from aircraft. They later relaxed those restrictions but remained concerned about CPAP units since they could be filled with a dangerous liquid. What I don't understand is my unit does not have a humidifier attached. So xray should show that there is no liquid reservoir. Nonetheless they have been instructed to test all CPAP units for explosive residue."
(from www.flightsfromhell.com)
Views: 49
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Mary Z on
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Mike, I don't know why they do it, but the two times I have flown with my cpap they just swabbed the outside of the cpap part, not the humidifier, for traces of explosives. I bought distilled water at my destination. They xray it too, I guess it does look like it could hold a bomb. The funny thing is that if you put it in your checked luggage (which none of us would ever do, just as we carry our prescription meds. It's one thing to lose your clothes, but quite another to lose stuff your health depends on) it would likely not be checked at all. I have heard rumors that airlines are going to stop allowing carry on baggage and they have already stopped allowing it in Canada (I don't know for sure about Canada). Since medical devices like cpap are not considered carry on baggage I don't know what will happen. I didn't consider it unnecessarily intrusive since you have to take off your shoes and I got patted down twice.
When I flew back from Maui they even swabbed my friends wheelchair which belonged to the airport and was only handled by airline employees.
Mary Z.
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Permalink Reply by Henning on
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Explosives are not always liquid (actually rarely).
It can also be plastic explosives that can be very difficult to locate at an x-ray.
Since there are a lot of electronic components in a CPAP, so it would be easy to construct a bomb that cannot be seen on an X-ray.
Henning
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Permalink Reply by Mike on
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more on this from the flying site: "I think one of the issues is that the x-ray exam shows the cylindrical fan as a sealed cylinder, which can be very suspicious. I learned this as I passed through security in Kazan, Russia. They asked me to open it, so they could examine the "metal cylinder". When I showed them it was a sealed unit with a label that it is medical equipment, they passed it."
Henning said:Explosives are not always liquid (actually rarely).
It can also be plastic explosives that can be very difficult to locate at an x-ray.
Since there are a lot of electronic components in a CPAP, so it would be easy to construct a bomb that cannot be seen on an X-ray.
Henning
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It is very easy to take plastic explosives with you on an aircraft.
Plastic explosive is in itself quite harmless. It can only burn slowly.
It requires a detonator (of metal) to make these plastic explosives for a bomb.
Therefore, there is much focus on metal objects and electronic components.
Henning
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In order not to scare anyone.
It is not a fire that creates a bomb in connection with plastic explosives, but speed.
It requires a speed of about 7000 meters per. second to trigger a detonation.
This requires a special detonator.
I have read that there has just been a case where a terrorist has tried with a "floating" detonator to blow up an airliner.
I've never heard that this can be done.
Henning
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not that you've done this, or meant to do this, but the last thing I want to do with this thread is get too into how to make a bomb! let's keep the topic focused on CPAP and the airport/flying experience, if we may.
Henning said:In order not to scare anyone.
It is not a fire that creates a bomb in connection with plastic explosives, but speed.
It requires a speed of about 7000 meters per. second to trigger a detonation.
This requires a special detonator.
I have read that there has just been a case where a terrorist has tried with a "floating" detonator to blow up an airliner.
I've never heard that this can be done.
Henning
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Mike,
In my explanation about why the airport authorities have so much focus on metal objects, I gave an explanation.
Afterwards, I felt that maybe I gave an uncertainty about flying. I do not think there is, but I felt that all doubt had to be removed.
Henning
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i completely understand, Henning, and appreciate your follow up on this thread.
Henning said:Mike,
In my explanation about why the airport authorities have so much focus on metal objects, I gave an explanation.
Afterwards, I felt that maybe I gave an uncertainty about flying. I do not think there is, but I felt that all doubt had to be removed.
Henning
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Permalink Reply by Dan Lyons on
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Why are CPAP machines tested? That is a concern?
My concern is for the things that are not tested and searched that end up allowing these radicals muslims onto aircraft that endanger everyone.
They can check anything and everything I have and I have no concerns.
These radical muslims only have to succeed once and hundreds/thousands die at their hands. We have to succeed every time in preventing them. It is sorta like the “escape proof” jail. The architect spends 8 hours a day planning the building. The occupants have 24 hours a day to find the way out.
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Permalink Reply by M'Lady Wench on
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Personally I would rather them check my machine than to just pass me through. There is a procedure that has to be followed...I didn't know what it was when I left last year for a convention, but when I came back, I was ready. I carry my cpap on with me so I have it with me all the time. I use a rolling backpack as my carry on so the strap on my cpap case slips right over the handle for the pack.
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Permalink Reply by 99 on
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new thought
you should be able to register a cpap and ancilary equipment to a governmental authority that like licence vehicals so that the goverment have a some sort of record
should you want to fly. this register can be refered to as a legitimate source of information and you should be wavied through with your machine as ligitimate belonging to you without the rigmarole that now exists
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